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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

For the 11/7 yarn along, my most recent post can be found here. I accidentally linked the wrong URL.

I set a goal for myself to finish the sleeves on my ASJ before yarn along this week. The buttons/toggles arrived on Monday even though they were coming from Canada and I placed the order Thursday...not on rushed delivery! The Etsy store I got them from can be found here! I sewed on the buttons before I had even begun the second sleeve but they went so perfectly with the yarn I just couldn't resist. I made button loops using i-cord stitch. All I have left is to sew the sleeve seems. I plan on adding a row of cabling where it will be stitched together to add more girth to the sleeve since my husband has larger arms.

To me, the buttons are reminiscent of the elves' leaf brooches from Lord of the Rings. It is why I had to get them.

I also began this pattern for an in-law of mine expecting a baby girl at the end of this year/beginning of next year. I've finished the back as you can see and have the beginning of the front on my needles.

I cast on only half the called-for sets since I didn't want such a full skirt on it. This is a great pattern and it knits up quick.

I am still reading the Catechism but I also started House of Mirth by Edith Wharton the other night at work at the recommendation of my sister-in-law.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

This past week I finished the hood on the Surprise Jacket and started elongating the sleeves. I'm in the home stretch! I also did end up making the backpack for my son's costume. I tried it on him before I finished weaving in the ends and he was so upset that he had to take it off!

I'm not hating this so much anymore. It's probably because I'm so close to finishing...

All this bad boy needs is a button. The straps on the back are also half dark green and half light green.

No reading "for fun" at the moment, although I am reading the Catechism for the year of faith (for my Catholic readers and those of you who want to learn about Catholicism, here is a link to sign up. They send daily emails with a little bit to read each day. It's so convenient.)

Can't wait to see all of your projects. My Wednesday mornings are consumed by visiting every yarn along link along with a cup of coffee.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

I've been noticing Google referring quite a bit of traffic to my posts on the Adventure Time hats I made for my sons' Halloween costumes this year. The bad news is that I am only mostly satisfied how it turned out. The good news?

I'm working on making a better pattern for it at the moment. All I need is more white yarn.
I am not entirely satisfied with how I made the one I already have so bear with me. It will take a little time. For now you can rest assured I am working on the pattern for all of your benefit.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

I have a love/hate relationship with this pattern. On the one hand, it is very simple so once you get started you just have to chug away till it's done. On the other hand, row after endless row of garter stitch makes me pretty nuts some days. I've fallen asleep working on this sweater. That's how bad it has gotten. So I am proud to say that all I have to do is finish the hood (which has been its own nuisance) and elongate the sleeves. At least I've had some motivational help on this project.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Two posts on the same day here is as normal as a blue moon! I couldn't resist not sharing these photos though.

I really don't feel comfortable having my kids' photos on here but since he is not looking directly at the camera I don't mind sharing. My two year old decided he wanted to help me with Daddy's sweater. Just before he sat down like that he had picked up the WIP and skein and set it on my lap saying, "Knit! Knit!"

So I guess my son will be forcing me to finish this...I won't have to self-motivate after all. And if anyone was wondering, no, he cannot knit. He was pulling the needles out as I was taking those photos.

My goal was to have the Tallulah done for yarn along this week. How did I do? See for yourself!

Sorry about not having a photo with my face too. I was having a REALLY bad hair day.
It's inevitable with a toddler and an infant and I didn't notice till I took a full body shot.
As much as I like the striped tank under it, the tank is a bit too small on me so unfortunately I will probably not ever wear it like that.

Looks a little wonky when it isn't being worn.

Beading on sides. This photo is very true to the actual color.

I just began Pope Benedict XVI's Truth and Tolerance. I am not sure this was a good idea; I've been itching to read it but it is quite heavy (so I hear) and I am worried I cannot devote to it the time it deserves in order to get the most of it. Plus, the only time I can really devote to reading is when we have quiet shifts at work. (It comes and goes being on night shift in a geriatric psych unit.)

Another e-book.

I need to finish a sweater I started a long time ago for my husband so reading will be on the back burner until I get myself to finish the tedious project. The sweater barely fits me in the arms (although adequate in length for my husband) and so it has been difficult to keep myself motivated since I know it won't fit unless he loses most of his arm muscle mass. However, these things stretch and I am using a good yarn for it so it has really become a matter of kicking myself in the arse hard enough.
The other project I finished I posted about already, so I'll just leave a photo:

Now it fits correctly. Plus, my son LOVES it.
That's really all that matters. :)

Cannot wait to see your projects. Thank you for all the encouragement I have received on the bolero! While I have been working on it for a month it has really not felt that long because it has been a very fun knit.

P.S. I can post a tutorial on knitting with beading if anyone is interested. It was not difficult but I found there is a trick to it.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Remember the post I did on the hats I made for Halloween? And the white hat looked like this:

The gaping, misshapen face hole was bothering me so bad I had to fix it. The top of the hat would not stay on top of my son's head and the bottom curled so much it didn't even cover his neck. It needed major fixing.

So, behold:

While it looks pretty white-Batman-esque, I do think it's been dramatically improved.

All I had to do was pick up the side and top stitches around the face hole and knit a few rows. I continued the stockinette stitch I started on the bottom and just added length. I'm thinking I'll add quite a bit more to the bottom so that it will keep his neck covered. My aim is to have it resting on his shoulders. This yarn is serious crap. It is stiff, coarse, and 100% acrylic. I have a massive stash though so this was a good way to use it up. My grandmother's friend had a houseful of yarn and passed away over a year ago. So far I've been given two suitcases full of yarn in the last year. It seems like I still have "no yarn" when I plan certain projects though. Just like looking into a well-stocked fridge and thinking, "There's no food to eat around here!" Usually I'm just not in the mood for the yarn I already have. This was a good way to use up two 50g skeins of cheap yarn.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Pardon the bad music reference. My two year old decided to take interest in knitting, pulled the needles out of my bolero edge, and tried to use the needles like I was. I was too mad to appreciate the "monkey see, monkey do" moment. What do I need to fix now?

Well, this:

The giant hole on the right needle goes down about three rows and the yarn-overs in the lace make this more complicated to fix. I will actually have to rip out multiple rows. Also a stitch was dropped and I haven't found where quite yet. Probably right around that huge hole though.

I will try to fix it before I post this, if it's not too bad...

Thankfully I only needed to frog two rows, the current one and the one below it. I fixed the hole and added a yarn-over that got dropped so it was an easy fix.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

After a month of working on the Tallulah bolero, the end is in sight! All I have to do now is the beaded edging around the edge of the entire garment. It will be the same as the sleeve edging...I hope you can see it ok from the photo. I am posting and photographing while on break at work tonight.

It looks so small but fits fine.

Beading details on sleeve cuff, soon to be added to the edge of the garment.

I am also just about finished with Jane Eyre. I think I enjoyed it more than Pride and Prejudice, which I read at the beginning of the summer for the first time. I plan to tackle Pope Benedict XVI's Truth and Tolerance (2003) next. I need to start nurturing my faith more than I usually do; I can be rather neglectful at times.